Tuesday, 28 June 2011

As the planets continue their merry dance through the heavens it seems that many of us have become stuck knee deep in mud, the mud is a kind of cosmic sludge stirring up deep and profound emotions and feelings. This is a time of powerful and extreme mixed emotions. Each of us is likely to experience both ends of the emotional spectrum in the blink of an eye. Some of us will be unfortunate enough to experience both at the same time.

There can be no denying that we are going through change. It is all around us. It is perhaps the one constant in life. Change; endings and beginnings, beginnings and endings. The cycle continues with some intensity now as we are being challenged to face our fears, to embrace our gifts and to step into the unknown.

At the same time, there is a continuing need to de-clutter our lives on every level as the need to travel lightly grows in importance. It is as though we are being prepared to take a giant leap of faith and the less baggage we have, the further we will soar. We can take baggage with us, but it will give us back ache, it will make the journey more tiring and we will most likely wonder why on earth we bothered to bring it when we reach our chosen destination! We already have all we need; carrying extra just gets in the way...

Emotions are peculiar things, we strive to have happy emotions and often fear the not so happy ones, yet it is often this latter category that propels us forwards, giving us the motivation and determination to change our lives. It is important to learn how to use our emotions in positive and life-enhancing ways now, we are being presented with an opportunity to re-shape our lives on every level, and it is up to us as individuals to either embrace this or keep our heads snugly buried in the sand. Ignorance is bliss, but is it really ignorance when we know it’s there but are choosing to ignore it through fear or something similar?

As we continue to awaken (or indeed to re-awaken), it seems that we need to embrace all aspects of our Beings now. We need to love and honour ourselves and our emotions, and we need to give thanks for, as well as use our, gifts and talents. Life is for living, not for simply thinking about; and now is the time to grab that proverbial bull by the horns and get on with it...

Tuesday, 21 June 2011

On the 21st is the Summer Solstice, the day the Sun enters Cancer. Also on this day, Mars enters Gemini, Juno enters Libra and Vesta moves retrograde in Aquarius. The Solstice is always a time to celebrate life and to feel blessed for all we have. It is also a time to honour ourselves and one another. The light within each of us glows strongly at the Solstice. It is a time to honour the gift of life and also to offer the Earth healing as well.

The Summer Solstice and associated cosmic events on that day form a real high point of the year in so many ways. The sun is at its zenith, for it is the longest day, but it is also a turning point, a time for new beginnings. Of course, after this day, the sun begins its descent towards the winter (but let’s not think about that just yet!), but the energy stays vibrant and strong for some time to come. We can expect to continue feeling more ‘awake’ and aware of ourselves, our paths and of one another on every level.

This is a time to celebrate our personal achievements and to sense the true nature of inner abundance. The Sun is our life spark; that little piece of light within each of us that burns brightly giving our lives joy, meaning, focus and strength.

The Summer Solstice is a day for coming together with like-minded people; it is a time to celebrate and to dance together to honour the life giver of the solar system, and the life we have within. There is a sense of transformation around this time, even more so with the other cosmic events happening on this day.

Mars enters Gemini, Juno enters Libra and Vesta moves retrograde in Aquarius. Vesta moving retrograde suggests a time of honouring our inner worlds, and finding the time to find peace, harmony and tranquillity within. Vesta wants us to feel whole and complete in ourselves. This is necessary if we are to truly be able to carry the light forwards. We need to let go of any fear connected to the Light or the Dark, and we need to find balance on all levels.

Mars entering Gemini marks a period of intense mental activity and movement as new ideas come through thick and fast. It is important to connect to the peace within as well though, for too much mental activity can be overwhelming.

Juno moving into Libra places a spotlight on the relationships in our lives. The dynamics, who gives, who takes, who does both. In order to live in balance, we need to ensure that we live in balance with those around us. It is time to sort the wheat from the chaff when it comes to givers and takers. It could be a case of demanding balance or it could be walking away, that is a choice that will come to each of us in time...

So, as this somewhat intense and challenging chapter of spiritual awakening continues, the Solstice gives each of us a brief opportunity to pause, reflect and to celebrate life and the progress we have all made. At the same time, we can visualise our paths ahead, and if we can continue to listen to our intuition and step into our power, we can embrace our full potential as evolving, growing, sentient Beings.

Wednesday, 15 June 2011

We have a Total Lunar Eclipse on the 15th in Sagittarius..The Eclipse will be visible from Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Eclipse is timed for around 21.13 BST (20.13 GMT).

This powerful Full Moon and Total Lunar Eclipse sets the pace for an energetic and highly paced summer. Change is afoot on so many levels it may feel a little overwhelming and confusing, yet if we can find a little quiet time to reflect and contemplate, we can soon re-focus and re-connect to the strength, fire and passion that resides within. Sagittarius is a fire sign, the sign of creativity, expansion and new horizons; so think big and be open to the Universe...

Take the time to reflect and contemplate today, and then get ready for an energised and inspirational summer...

Monday, 13 June 2011

Saturn has been retrograde in Libra since January 2011 and today (13th June) he finally moves direct. Moving direct, Saturn will encourage each of us to take control of our lives and focus on what is truly important. There is much work for each of us to do, and Saturn is encouraging us to roll up our sleeves and get stuck in now. The time for cogitation is over, and the time for action has come. This is not about risk taking or throwing caution to the wind, but it is about grabbing our lives with both hands and honouring our full potential.

The challenge for many of us is in making decisions, in Libra this is made even more challenging, but making decisions means being accountable, and whilst many of us have no fear in taking responsibility for our choices, it is hard to be sure that our choices are right in the first place! So indecision can lead to doubt, and doubt can lead to fear which in turn creates bigger and bigger obstacles to us moving forwards with confidence.

Many of us are full of ‘what if’s’ and ‘if only’s’ in life, and this is so restricting and limiting. If we spend our lives in fear of moving forwards and afraid of making the ‘wrong’ decisions and so end up never moving forwards or making choices; instead we end up paralysed in indecision and unable to function.

So, it is now time to face our fears head on and to believe in our ability to succeed. It is time to be more assertive and confident as we move through life, and to not be afraid of taking more responsibility for our choices in life.

This is not to say that we all need to throw caution to the wind, but it is about taking a deep breath and filling your own special space in the world. Holding back is akin to a withering flower, still alive but clinging on, living on the edge of life and death. There is no joy in living on a precipice; the way ahead may be unknown and may be full of risk, but if we want to grow and learn we have to take that decision to try.

So Saturn moving direct will certainly be an expansive time for those souls truly willing to be fully accountable, responsible and willing to take a chance on life, love and joy.

Scary!

Saturn will continue to challenge each of us on many levels making us question our belief systems, our paths in life and our relationships (and our choices!). Yet, without this we are unlikely to grow, develop and evolve…

It is a time to think what we can do for both ourselves and for others, and less so what others can do for us. This is liberating and freeing, and will help each of us to take some big steps forwards in our lives.

It seems clear that if we are prepared to work with Saturn, then he will work with us and support us towards finding greater inner strength and resolve, and finally feeling like we are the masters (or mistresses!) of our own destinies...

Wednesday, 8 June 2011

Powerful Chiron moves retrograde in Pisces today (the 8th June), this mighty little asteroid plays an important role in our lives, yet he is still overlooked by so many astrologers.

Chiron is the wounded healer, and in myth was an immortal wounded by a poisoned arrow (when Hercules accidently scratched him with an arrow poisoned with the blood of the monster Hydra). Unable to die to end his suffering and unable to heal himself, he instead used his pain and suffering to help and heal others. Chiron therefore shows us our own ‘incurable’ wounds or traumas and the ways in which we can use these experiences to help others.

Over the coming weeks, each of us will be shown the roots of our painful experiences to help us begin to understand our deepest motivations and the reasons behind the choices we make in life. Chiron wants us to realise that some of our hurts stem from our own attitudes and choices, and that there are times when we need to take responsibility for this. Chiron is not about blame, but he is about facing up to things, and sometimes self-honesty is one of the hardest things to do.

There is a strong sense that Chiron wants us now to acknowledge our pain, our trauma and our choices and to heal the roots of these within us. It may not be possible to cure these, but through healing we can begin to move beyond the pain towards more meaning and the ability to help and heal others.

Faith is key here, as it is our beliefs that see us through the pain, and help us to find ‘meaning’ to our suffering. Yet sometimes it can be hard not to ‘blame’ God or some other higher force for some of the suffering we either experience or witness. Life can be hard and life can be cruel; these are simple facts, but Chiron instils within us the capacity to find hope where previously we have only seen despair.

Chiron is the true force of compassion; he can take us beyond self-pity and beyond blame to a place where we can truly be at peace with our suffering. Compassion means ‘to feel with’ and this is the crux of healing - the ability to heal others and experience true compassion only comes through our personal experiences and pain. This is not to say that we have all experienced immeasurable pain in our lives, but we have all lived and we have all experienced life, and it is through this, that compassion grows.

Retrograde Chiron now wants us to face our inner wounds, our inner damage and our life-changing experiences, in order to tap into the healing force within us where compassion flows. Chiron wants us to move beyond blame to a place of strength and power within.

We are continuing on the journey of intense spiritual re-awakening in order to tap into the wisdom, compassion, love, joy and strength within.

So, over the coming weeks Chiron looks set to push us towards more self-honesty, a close look at our own attitudes and beliefs as well as opening us up far more to the power of compassion that resides within us all...

Saturday, 4 June 2011

Jupiter enters Taurus today and he remains there until 2012. This is a strong and empowering placement for mighty Jupiter marking a time of self-reliance and inspiration. It is a time to affirm our inner strength and to tap into that vast well of knowledge within in order to guide us forwards on our paths in life.

The more we can become aware of our strengths and gifts, the more confidence and faith we can muster in ourselves and in our paths ahead. Life feels exciting, adventurous and full of beginnings and new opportunities. Life may still feel chaotic and confusing, and it is likely that we will continue to face the spectrum of emotions with some intensity for the foreseeable future, but deep within each of us a strength and power is emerging, building like the magma in a volcano. If we can channel this energy we can control the flow, if we ignore it or try to force ahead, then we may have an incontrollable explosion of energy on our hands.

This is a time to harness our power within and to work with it to transform our lives. As our perspectives continue to shift, it seems clear that the more work we do on ourselves, the greater the impact this will have on the collective.

Despite the challenges, imperfections and difficulties of life, it is important to also see it as a rich rewarding place, a place where bliss, joy and happiness are possible and achievable. How we choose to think about life is just as important as the choices we make, actions we take etc. It is time now to apply our philosophical and spiritual concepts to the context of everyday life. In short, we need to walk our talk, and live our ideals.

As a new chapter of practical, grounded and focused hard work begins, we need to cut out the daydreaming, and to focus instead on the real priorities and dreams in our lives. Jupiter is a gentle and giving planet, full of wisdom and abundance carrying the keys to success. So, work with him, and he will support each of us on the path ahead...

Friday, 3 June 2011

Neptune moves retrograde in Pisces today. This is a subtle, ethereal planet of great importance and significance to those on the pathway towards enlightenment.

Neptune is the dreamer, the sage, the visionary, the psychic, the artist and the bestower of Universal Love. Neptune is that subtle thread that connects us all through a beautiful cosmic dance of energies that swirl and flow within and around each of us connecting us to the Universe and making us One.

In retrograde, Neptune asks each of us to look beyond our material lives towards the bliss and joy of being a part of something much bigger. It is when we are truly connected to this Source that we overflow with Universal Love, inspiration and creativity. It is from this space that we can heal and reach out to others to make a difference.

Over the coming weeks and months, Neptune wants us to seek the peace and solace within and to truly connect to the love that resides there. Neptune wants us to bathe in the light of creativity, spirituality, compassion, inspiration in order to find a sense of wholeness within.

We each have the Universe within us, and yet at the same time, as human beings we are but tiny dots in the bigger picture. This is a paradox, yet being open to this is vital if we are to become illuminated, enlightened and inspired to become whole.

Neptune often causes confusion and fear within us; we can feel lost, without direction with our paths swathed in mist and fog. Yet, we need to go into this space to find ourselves again. When we are lost, we need to ask ourselves if we are asking the right questions for guidance, are we truly ready for change and are we truly open to receive the guidance of the Universe.

Sometimes our confusion, indecision and uncertainty comes from a more logical need for guarantees about the outcome, but Neptune takes us beyond that need to a place of knowing and trusting that the outcome will turn out as it is meant to. This is akin to surrendering, but it is not giving up, it is about truly stepping into Source and letting go of doubts, fears and indecisions and trusting the Universe to guide us.

It is time now to awaken our inner Selves and to dive into the deep well of inspiration, creativity, love and compassion that resides within each of us. Sink through the confusion and try not to let the fog disorientate us, try to let go of the need to control so as to avoid getting lost in the mazes we all have inside of ourselves (the mazes are a method of protection and of avoiding Truth – we all do that!).

Retrograde Neptune will encourage each of us to journey deeper and deeper within so that we can find our centres and gain a crystal clear sense of vision. If the Inner Voice does not immediately call, we shouldn’t try to force this, but instead be patient and know that the time will come. Sometimes the Voice is there, but with so much ‘noise’ around us, we simply cannot hear it. So, we need to have patience and learn to cut out the clatter in order to fine tune our souls to hear our own unique notes (inner voices).

It becomes clear when we have reached this goal, as a calmness and serenity overcomes us, and we begin to feel nurtured and sustained from within, not from without (the material world). Of course, living in the real world, we cannot let go of the material or physical world completely, but we will begin to witness a significant shift in how we relate to this part of our lives. The greatest riches come from within.

Neptune wants us to honour our divinity and to connect to the infinity that resides within us all. No mean feat, but the coming months look set to be quite a journey!

Throughout this time, the theme of letting go and de-cluttering continues as each of us strives to live more simply and more in accordance to our beliefs. It is time to travel lightly now, and it is time to live with true meaning, purpose and joy.

Living with meaning and purpose is living simply, spiritually, holistically and joyfully in a balanced way. Living in accordance to our beliefs, honouring ourselves and everything else (humans, animals, the earth etc) and being at One with Spirit.

This marks a time of deep introspection and reflection for many of us. It is a time to feel our connection to the Universe and our higher consciousness, grow in strength, focus and intensity. Chiron moves retrograde on the 8th (more on this soon!) and this heightens the priority of our inner landscapes. It is a time to let go of any residual pain or trauma and to finally feel a sense of personal freedom.

So, take some time today to go within and to bathe in the stillness there. Try and do this every day from now on, and see how it helps us to stand firm in the world and to carry on with life with more ease, joy and contentment…

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

There are several eclipses in 2011, and today we have a Geminian New Moon and partial solar eclipse (visible from east Asia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland).

Eclipses were once seen as harbingers of doom, heralding change. The latter holds true, for change is certainly in the air as each of us continues to awaken and to connect to our true Self. The more awake we become, the more we realise our true goals and priorities in life. This is a time of quickening, a time of de-cluttering on all levels and for embracing our destinies...

About Me

I am a writer and spiritual counsellor.I have spent my life offering inspiration, insight, personal empowerment, healing, life guidance and spiritual advice to others.
I am also disabled and living with numerous long-term health issues. Over time, I have found inspiration from my pain and ill-health and this is reflected in my writing.
I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Hypermobility Type), PoTS, CRPS and Fibromyalgia to name but a few. However I am not my conditions!